Dismiss them now to their homes and choose for yourself a few men to stay with you, and come with me to Ptolemais: Trypho is not giving commands to Jonathan here, but making requests. He is urging Jonathan to dismiss his army and go with him to Ptolemais. Jonathan had been successful before at Ptolemais (1Macc 10.59-66; 11.23-27), and Trypho is suggesting that more good fortune may await him there. Good News Bible has a good model for this sentence. It’s initial question (“Why don’t you send them home?”) does not expect an answer, but is a polite request.

I will hand it over to you as well as the other strongholds and the remaining troops and all the officials: Trypho told Jonathan that he did not come to fight him, but to turn over control of Judea to him. Unfortunately, Jonathan choose to believe him. Ptolemais had never been friendly to the Maccabees (see 1Macc 5.15), but they had long wanted it. Demetrius~I had promised Jonathan the city (1Macc 10.39), but Jonathan did not trust the offer. The other strongholds are not identified, but we know Syrian troops were still stationed at Gezer (1Macc 13.43-48) and Jerusalem. If Trypho was offering to evacuate the fort at Jerusalem, it was a tempting offer indeed.

And will turn round and go home. For that is why I am here: Good News Bible offers a good model for this last part of the verse; its two short sentences are effective.

Contemporary English Version restructures this verse in a helpful way, saying:

• I’ve come here to give you the city of Ptolemais and the other fortresses and to put you in charge of all the officers and troops. After I’ve done this, I’ll go home. Choose a few troops to go with you and me to Ptolemais, then send the others back to Judea.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.